Attachment for closet-cisterns.



T. E. MENARD.

ATTACHMENT FOR CLOSET CISTERNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1914.

1 1 1 4, 1 69. Patented 001;. 20, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHUTOLITHOU WASHINGTON. D. C.

TELESPHORE n. MENARD, or ZBOZEMAN, MONTANA.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

; 9 ATTACHMENT ronoLosET-cIsTEnNs.

Application filed April 18,1914. Serial No. 832,766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TELnsrHoRE E. ME- NARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bozeman, in the county of Gallatin and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attach ments for Closet-Gisterns, of which the following is a specification. I j

My invention relates to devices for auto- 1o matically controlling the flow of water into reservoirs or cisterns; and more specifically to attachments for controlling valve floats. My object is to provide an attachment for valve floats controlling inlet valves, which attachment will automatically opcrate to hold the valves wide open till the desired amount of water is admitted, and will then suddenly close them.

Another object is to provide a device of the character herein described, which can be easily and conveniently attached to any ordinary float already in use, for controlling an inlet valve at the bottom of a reservoirr Still another object is to provide a. device of this character with adjustable means for regulating the amount of waterto be admitted into the reservoir; and also with means adapting the device to trip with great ease and certainty when the water has risen in w the reservoir to the exact height desired. 1

Other objects will appear in the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features as will be hereinafter described and 85 claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich I have shown my device as applied to the float valve of a closet cistern. j

- In these drawings,;Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cistern supplied with my device, with the front side of the cistern supposed to he removed to expose the inside mechanism to view; the parts being in the position they occupy while the cistern is 455 filling with water, and the water having reached the point where the device is about to be tripped, and the flow of water stopped.

Fig. 2 shows the parts in the position theyassume after being tripped. Fig. 3 is a'per- 5Q spective view of the clamping plate 15, which engages the wall of the cistern. Fig.

4 is an edge elevation of the clamping linlr 8, which connects the float rod 3 with the auxiliary arm 7 and, Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the ear-plate 17, which forms the connecting-link between the upper end of the arm 5, and the clamping plate 15.

The numeral 1 indicates the cistern.

Patented Oct. 2o, 191

j The flushing mechanism-consisting of the operating lever A, the valve stem B, the ball valve C, and the outlet pipe D, are of ordinary construction, and form no part of my invention, which only has to do with controlling the inlet valve.

The numeral 2 represents an inlet valve of any ordinary or preferred construction, adapted to be opened and closed in the usual manner by the arm 3 which carries the float 4 at its outer end.

As thus far described, when the cistern has been emptiedthrough its outlet D, and the float 4. is consequently in its lowermost position with the inlet valve 2 wide open and "the water refillingthe cistern, the float 4: rises with the water and in doing so gradually closes the inlet valve 2, so that the water flows in slower and slower till it is finally cut off. Thus it requires very much longer to refill the cistern than would be the case if the valve were permitted to remain wide; open till the requisite amount of water hadbeen admitted. M attachment which Iwill now describe e ectsthis result byholding the float 4 in its lowermost position tillthe water has risen to the desired height in the cistern, and at that point releasing the float to promptly close the valve. j j

a The arm 5 is suitably pivoted at its outer end tothe cistern at a point abovethe inlet valve 2; and toward its lower end, but spaced therefrom, is provided with downwardlyextending ears 6 to which are piv oted the upper end. of the auxiliary arm 7. To the lower end of this arm 7 is pivoted a clamp 8 adapted to rigidly engage the arm 3 of the float 4 at a point preferably spaced somewhat inwardlyfrom the float. The lowerfendo of the bar 5, is provided with a downwardly extending set screw 9, to form an adjustable stop for limiting the upward swing of the auxiliary arm 7 on the pivot 21 which connects it, at its upper end, with the primary arm 5.

The auxiliary or trip float 10 is provided with an upwardly extending stem 11 which has threaded connection with the arm 5 to permit the adjustment of said float up or down relatively to said arm: and the stem is provided with the lock nuts 12 to rigidly hold said float in its adjusted position on the arm 5. i

The clamping member 8 illustrated in adjusted to any desired position on said arm 8.

For conveniently attaching my device to the wall of the cistern, I provide the clamping plate 15 bent at its upper .end first to form the right angled section 15 and then the downwardly extending section 15", thus forming a hook adapted to hook over the top edge of the cistern. The section 15 carries the set screw 15 adapted to engage the wall of the cistern to hold the plate 15 securely thereupon; I The mainsection of the plate 15 is provided with two' vertical slots 16. The ear plate 17 having the parallel ears 18, is adjustably secured to the plate 15 by means of the screws 19 which pass through the slots 16 and permit the plate 17 to be adjusted up and down on the plate 15. The ears 18 carry the pivot 19 which engages the upper end of the arm 5.

When the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, if a line be drawn from the pivot 19 at the upper end of the arm 5,130 the pivot 20 at the lower end of the auxiliary arm 7 it will be seen that the pivbt 21 which connects the two arms together will fall below this line. The set screw 9 affords means foraccurately adjusting the arms 5 and 7 to each other, in order to bring the pivot 21 nearer to or farther from thisline, I

i To adjust the device to the cistern,- the plate 17 is adjusted on the plate 15, in position to bring the auxiliary float 10 approximately to the water line when the arms 5 and 7 are in their extended position (as illustrated in Fig. 1) with the clamp 8 rigidly secured to the'arm 3 of the float 4, after said floate has been brought to the lowest position it is desired it shall occupy. When the parts are thus arranged, the arms 5 and 7 will in the first place form a stay to prevent the main float t from, under any circumstances, falling to a lower position than it is adjusted for; and in the next place these arms will act as a brace to prevent the arm 3 from rising, since in this respect they may be considered as a single bar, at its upper end fast to the cistern, and at its lower end to the float arm 3. The ia'ct that this arm is jointed at 21 does not affect the' case soglo'ng as said joint falls below the line extending from the pivot 19 at its upper end to the pivot '20 at its lower end. But when the water rises in the cistern and comes into contact with the auxiliary float,

it bears upwardly against the joint connecting the arms 5 and 7 and moves the pivot 21 above the line just above referred to, and then the joint is broken so to speak, and the float 4 is suddenly freed from the brace, which has thus far held it to its lowest position, and shoots up to the top of the water, almost instantly closing the inlet valve 2, which up to this time has been held wide open. Hence it will be seen that my device permits the cistern to be refilled in the shortest possible time after having been emptied.

By means of the set screw 9 the pivot 21 may be adjusted so close up to the line extending from the pivot 19 to the pivot 20, that the joint between the two arms 5 and 7 will be tripped upwardly with great ease to release the float 4 when the water reaches the auxiliary float 10. To adjust the auxilia'ryfloat 10 up and down by means of its threaded stem 12will also serve to vary the water line, in addition to the means already referred to for that purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is r 1. An attachment for floats controlling inlet valves at the bottoms of reservoirs, comprising a brace adapted to be pivoted at its upper end to the reservoir at a point above the inlet valve, and at its lower end to the float arm to brace said arm against upward movement, said brace being provided with a joint intermediate its ends, and adapted to be moved upwardly at said intermediate joint when lateral upward pressure is applied to its underside, to permit the entire brace to swing upwardly, said brace being provided with a stop adjacent said intermediate joint to limit the downward movement of the brace; and an auxiliary float on the under side of said brace adapted to be engaged and forced upwardly by the water rising in the reservoir, to cause said auxiliary float to trip the intermediate joint of said brace to release the main float.

2. In a device of the character described, a jointed brace Qomprising an upper and a lower section, the upper end of the lower section being hinged on the under side of the upper section at a point between its ends, said brace having means at its lower end for pivotal connection with a valve float rod; and an auxiliary float at the under side of the brace and connected thereto.

3.. In a device of the character described, a jointed brace comprising an upper and a lower section hinged together; a stop adjacent said hinge for arresting the downward movement of the brace and for rendering said brace rigid when moved downward to a given point, means at the upper end of the brace for pivotally and adjustably attaching the same to the reservoir and means at its lower end for pivotally and adjustably connecting said end to the arm of the valve float; and an auxiliary float at the under side of said brace adjustable up and down relatively thereto, and adapted when reached by the water to bear upwardly against the brace to trip the same at its joint.

4. In a device of the character described, a jointed brace comprisin an upper and a lower section hinged togetfier; an adjustable stop adjacent said hinge for arresting the downward movement of the brace to render a the brace rigid when moved downward to a given point; a clamp adapted to be rigidly secured to the reservoir; means pivotally connected to the upper end of the brace T and adapted to adi'ustably engage said clamp; means at the ower end of they brace for pivotally connecting the same with the arm of a valve float rod; and an auxiliary float at the under side of thebrace adapted when reached by the water, to bear upwardly against the brace to trip it at its joint. e

p In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

TELESPHORE E. MENARD. Witnesses:

F. H. WEs'r, ROY M. KEISTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor'flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

1 Washington, D. G. 

